8/11/2015

I think this is going to be on the top of our list when we would like to go out for a steak. They had so much flavor and were cooked to perfection.  

Started off with the one of the salads along with the Bone Marrow appetizer. The Bone Marrow is a bit out of the box for us, but was very good. Not sure I would do it again only because of the consistency and outside the box for us.

My wife has the filet and I had the ribeye which were both great. Also had the baked potato and the side of bacon. Never seen bacon as a side, but, if you like bacon, you must try this out.

The service was excellent also. Had Daniel as the waiter and not sure who the bus boy was, but was also excellent.

8/9/2015

I definitely underestimated Bavette's! I honestly didn't have any expectation for Bavette's since it's a bar/restaurant. My friend insisted on checking this place out so we ended up making reservations. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation and went to the bar to grab a drink. We were lucky to grab seats at the bar and the bartender told us that we could just eat at the bar if we wanted to. Love that this place has an extensive list of entrees including steak, chicken, lamb, fish, pork chop, and etc. I guarantee you'll be able to find something you like at Bavette's.

Had no idea what to order and the bartender recommended the filet mignon. He told me it's the best filet mignon in Chicago. Who wouldn't say that about their own restaurant though right?! Didn't wait long before my filet came. Cooked to perfection (medium rare) and the meat just melted in my mouth!! Bartender mentioned sprinkling a pinch of sea salt for flavor if needed but no garnishes/sauces were needed for this filet. Full of flavor and felt like I was in heaven for a few minutes!! Hands down one of the BEST filet mignon's that I ever had in my life!

Great ambiance, service, and lastly incredible food! Chicago has some amazing restaurant, but this one knocks it out the park! I would recommend making reservations in advance since this place is popping. Coming back next time I'm in town!

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  Picture doesn't do justice but hands down one of the best filet mignon's I ever had in my life!

  Picture doesn't do justice but hands down one of the best filet mignon's I ever had in my life!

8/5/2015

I really like this place, and recommend it, though I am frustrated by how difficult it is to reserve a table, only to find, every time I'm there, that there are plenty of empty tables.

Last night my cognac Sazerac was spot on. My Classic Ribeye - Chicago Cut was, like the last two times I was there, delicious and cooked perfeI really like this place, and recommend it, though I am frustrated by how difficult it is to reserve a table, only to find, every time I'm there, that there are plenty of empty tables.

Last night my cognac Sazerac was spot on. My Classic Ribeye - Chicago Cut was, like the last two times I was there, delicious and cooked perfectly "("Pittsburgh rare"). My companion said her Halibut special (with a parsley/red onion side salad) was terrific. I was less enamored of the sides. The Pommes Frites were just fries, but they were good (not great) fries, with a nice garlic aioli, the Elote Style Corn did absolutely nothing for me (though my companion seemed to like it), and, like the Elote, the Wild Mushrooms were, to my mind, so-so at best. The Lemon Meringue Pie was delicious--and steakhouse-sized--though I personally prefer a little more lemony (and lemon curd-like) pie filling. Here, it was more like lemon cream, if there is such a thing.

My only other comment is that on prior visits, the room was darker. It is still a somewhat dark space, but now I think they've lost some of the charm with a little too much light. The lower light gave everyone a candlelight glow that was quite appealing.

Re-reading this review, it sort of doesn't sound like I'd give this place 4 stars, but I totally do. It's a fine place to eat, and, even in the face of so many excellent choices in that area and beyond, this is a place worth going to.

7/18/2015

Can I have six stars? Best meal ever. I don't even know where to start.

Cocktails
I had the Lillet Rosé Martini, I am a huge St. Germaine fan. All the typical ingredients you'd want with it but the perfect amount. I didn't try anything else. I was sold. He had the Mint Julep and the Sazerac. Both amazing and very strong.

Food
We started with the Apple and Mixed Greens salad, the candied pecans and manchego cheese made this perfect. It was a nice light starter without getting to full before your main.  Then I had the 10 oz filet, this was the best steak I've had in Chicago. Crust was amazing, still medium rare inside. He had the Dry Aged Bone-in Ribeye, flavor was again, amazing, so juicy! Very well rested, the juice was inside the steak, not running out. Then we had the Elote Corn, what in the world?! Crazy. Creamy, cheesy, cilantro, lime, chili... The best Mexican style corn I've ever had. Lastly, the Mashed Potatoes with garlic and gravy. Simple and wonderful, no Italian can complain about garlic cloves on their food.

Dessert
Yes, save room or just eat it anyway. The Chocolate Creme Pie. The crust was almost like a brunt brownie, it made the pie and whipped cream even out so well. The pie is insanely rich and decadent. I always say, I need chocolate. Well, this is the chocolate I need. Wow!

Lastly, don't eat all day! We had breakfast, worked out, snacked light and our reservation was at 10pm. Just don't eat. It's worth it!

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  Lillet rosé martini and mint julep

  Lillet rosé martini and mint julep
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  Apple and mixed greens salad

  Apple and mixed greens salad
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  10oz Filet

  10oz Filet
• See all photos from Danielle S. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

6/15/2015

A perfect rating indeed! Bavette's NEVER disappoints. Say it with me now..N-E-V-E-R  disappoints. Ambiance is old fashioned steak house meets the contemporary coolness of all Brendan Sodikoff's establishments. Bavette's encompasses all that a steak house should. The man and I came here last Monday for a much longed-for second meal here. We were seated upstairs this time and just a tip, if you can, request to sit in the "parlor". It's super sexy and you won't regret it. Moving on...food/drinks:

The mans went with his usual - old fashioned. Very yummy and had great, smooth flavor. Also, they give you just about any option for your old fashioned to include bourbon, scotch, whiskey, cognac. I mean, it's legit.

I was interested in a robust, yet not punch you in the face red. I opted for the Sangiovese and it proved to be perfect for what I was feeling.

Appetizer - garlic shrimp de jonghe
Mains - short rib stroganoff and the bone in dry aged rib eye
Sides - elote style corn and roasted tomatoes
Dessert - lemon meringue pie

I have not one bad thing to say about any of it. I can't, it would be a sin. If you are getting steak, don't even think about looking further than the rib eye. Stroganoff melted in your mouth and fell apart just by looking at it. Corn was so creamy I couldn't even handle it. The pie was hilarious, it was 15 feet high with the whip cream.

In short, anything and everything you get at Bavette's will knock your socks off. Love love love...one of my fav spots in Chicago!!!

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  Sky high lemon meringue pie...ooooo so delish!

  Sky high lemon meringue pie...ooooo so delish!
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  Elote corn and roasted tomatoes

  Elote corn and roasted tomatoes
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  Short rib stroganoff...unreal!

  Short rib stroganoff...unreal!
• See all photos from Mouse C. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

7/26/2015

Had a wonderful time and wanted to leave another stellar review, but honestly after 930+ reviews what the hell am I going to add to the conversation?

The Meat is great.
The Oysters are great.
The wine is great.
The drinks are great.
The service is great.
Hell, even the bread is great.

Cool decor, very vintage.

Go there. Bring your wallet. End of story.

5/28/2015

Bavette's is my favorite steakhouse to come to in the city because it does not feel like your typical upscale, overdone, business man's restaurant...that's not to say it won't cost you like one! It has an old time feel where you can still get all the same foods as your typical steak house, but the environment is much better. This is demonstrated especially well through their BYOB policy: Their corkage fee is that a glass of your bottle of wine must be given to someone in the restaurant of your choosing, perhaps someone celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just your waitress whose service has been great!

The food- the seafood is very fresh and can't be missed so definitely fit it into your appetizer so you can still get a steak for your meal (STRATEGY!). I highly recommend the crab stuffed avocado, very fresh with a great, light, citrusy flavor. The baked goat cheese and the crab cake are other favorites to start with. For your meal everyone of course prefers their own cut, if you don't, go for the steak frites, it's my personal favorite. As far as sides, the spinach and mushrooms are on point.

You really can't go wrong here, if you've been going to the Gibson's and RPMs for too long, it's time to change and this is your move!

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  Bone marrow

  Bone marrow
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  Fried chicken

  Fried chicken
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  Steak and frites

  Steak and frites
• See all photos from Jordan K. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

8/11/2015

We ate downstairs at bar since we didn't have reservation.
Great atmosphere. Riley did a great job serving and making all feel welcome. The food was excellent. We had beef tongue, Caesar salad, and crab cake( less breading would be good). Flavors delicious. Simple but flavorful.

7/14/2015

The food was good, the service was good, the menu was a good mix of Traditional and New American, but where Bavette's really stands out is the old-fashioned décor.  Calling the ambiance "throwback" seems insulting since this classic style of class never really left.

The place was pretty crowded at dinnertime on Sunday, but there were a few open seats at the bar.  I overheard the hostess tell a party with reservations that they were waiting for another party to clear out, so if you're going with more than 2 people, be sure to plan ahead.

Although Bavette's is beyond my usual dinner-budget, I'd happily throw on my 3-pieced suit and go back for an old-fashioned or 2.

7/2/2015

My review is based only on the food.  The steak was exceptional.  Their selection of meat is exquisite.  But, here is a big BUT, they bring the steak less seasoned than most high end steak places. It is simply bland!  Why would they do such a thing?? Because, they have this side of dry seasoning they bring to the table.  I suggest getting a few of those cups!  You can use them with the bread and you can even use them with the veggies!  But you should surely use them with the steak!  Layer it all over that big old piece of protein!  It is much better that way!  Bottom line, you can get equal elsewhere without seasoning, but once you add this dry rub the steaks and the side (with the seasonings) are a 5 star!!

Very few places on Yelp at 4+ stars.  I can't give this place 5 because of the weak "dessert card" (yes, it is only a piece of paper).  I passed!  I don't need the calories, but I WANT some chocolate!  They did nothing to convince me or even push me to a cappuccino or after dinner drink!  I am moving on; there are better places nearby!  Four stars are it!

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  It's dark and intimate here!

  It's dark and intimate here!

7/11/2015

Bavette's is a great place for dinner. It's a different ambience from most of the trendy places in River North.  It's got that vintage 1940's feel.  If you revisit a menu from a fine dining restaurant of a bygone era, it will look eerily like Bavette's menu and ambience.  The food is good.  It really is, but you won't walk away thinking to yourself "WOW!!!" except when you look at your bill.

My three visits were all for dinner.  I think one needs three visits to one place to really get an accurate understanding of a business, particularly a restaurant.  

Entering Bavette's is an experience, it immediately reminds me of a lot of old stately restaurants in Washington DC, or an English gentlemen's club (I should clarify that there are no strippers in gentlemen's clubs in England. They are for the upper classes.  But that said, why do Americans call strip clubs "gentlemen's clubs" anyway?  I mean, if you're going in these places, you're hardly a gentleman, ogling women and salivating over reproductive organs. And frankly, I don't think the "dancers" really want you to act like a gentleman!  In fact, if a gentleman tried to defend their virtue, that's likely more than the dancer has ever done, right? Ok, I got that from Groucho Marx, but I digress.... )
Aaaaaanyway.....my point is it's dark in there, and the appointments are refined and stately, rich wood bar, nice table cloths, beautifully decorated.  It's certainly a romantic place.  

The food is very good.  My friend had the steak, and as a steak expert of sorts, he was singly impressed with the cut of meat and the way it was simply seasoned, aged, and cooked.  I don't know if Bavette's qualifies as a "steak house" but they certainly do steak very, very well. He had the Chicago Cut, which we both recommend since I was able to taste it.

I had the chicken which granted, is standard fare but done very well. It was moist and tender, flavorful with the perfect hint of garlic and other herbs. The mashed potatoes were some of the best I've ever had, which surprised me because they don't boast the addition of sour cream, just lots and lots of garlic and butter, and then lots and lots of butter!  If you're concerned about clogged arteries, bring a defibrillator and buck-up.  It's worth the jump start your guest or waiter will have to give you.

The garlic shrimp de jonghe was extremely good.  It's basic standard fare, but when shellfish is involved, given it is so temperamental, one cannot take for granted when it is well prepared.  

Finally, I can't finish this review without noting that their strong suit is cocktails.  This is a place you come to for a good standard martini, a nice glass of fine bourbon, or a well made sazerac.  I think every bar should be measured by their ability to make a proper sazerac because it takes real talent, attention to detail, and care.  It truly is a hand-crafted cocktail when prepared properly.  These mixologists know how to muddle it just right so all the flavors blend and become one. The proper straining is also important, no one wants bits at the bottom of their glass.  Finally, good ingredients are of course important, and use of a proper glass should never be compromised by an ignorant or lazy bartender, or an iconoclastic management. And of course, NO ICE!  

Well done Bavette's!!!!  Thank you for respecting the tradition of fine dining sans the pretension.

7/8/2015

Cute atmosphere, nice staff, but really dark lighting. The bone marrow was really tasty - I could have gone with another plate or two (or three), the aged ribeye my boyfriend got was good, the pork I ordered was good and the sides were typical sides. I wasn't too impressed with their seafood menu even though our server recommended it was the best of the best, but you can't beat seafood from the PNW. Drinks were well concocted and nice and strong! Was it the best steak I've had in my life? No. Would I come back in my next visit to Chicago? Probably not.

4/24/2015

I heard so many amazing things about Bavette's Bar & Boeuf from friends, co-workers, and fellow Yelpers, but trying to make reservations for dinner was always a hassle.  Finally, I scored reservations for dinner on a Friday night for two.  It was three months out, but nonetheless I was finally going to experience what the hype was all about.  I decided to invite my sister since she appreciates food as much as me.

Like always, my sister eats with her eyes rather than what her stomach can handle.  But what the heck....we ordered:

Baked Crab Cake: baked crab, preserved lemon, and remoulade.  It was such a breath of fresh air to see the crab cake was not deep fried or full of fillers, but baked with fresh crab meat instead.  This was a simple crab cake, but it surely didn't lack any flavor.

Baked Goat Cheese: served with red sauce and garlic bread.  There is just something about goat cheese and marinara sauce together that I yearn for.  The red sauce was hearty and full of bold flavors which complimented the smooth and creamy goat cheese perfectly.

6 oz Filet Mignon - Petite Duchess Cut:  served with roasted tomatoes, béarnaise sauce, and watercress.  With all the food we ordered, I was so glad the filet mignon was only 6 ounces.  It was the perfect size for little old me.  The cook and the seasoning was spot on.

Double Bone Berkshire Pork Chop: served with herb jus and lemon.  This was my sister's entrée.  She really enjoyed everything about this pork chop.  She stated that it was really tender and juicy.  The herb jus and lemon was the perfect topping to enhance the natural flavors of the pork.

Elote Style Corn: chili, lime, cilantro, and parmesan.  I'm always reluctant to order elote style corn from any restaurant because it never tastes the same as the street vendors and it is just way more expensive.  But everyone was telling me that I had to try it here, so I again went against my gut and ordered the corn.  It definitely didn't taste like the authentic elote, but Bavatte's spin on it was still good.  The corn was creamy and the lime and chili gave it an extra zing.

Chocolate Pie: this was the perfect ending to our feast.  The crust was rich and buttery, the filling was smooth and full of chocolate flavor, and the whipped cream was light and airy.

Overall, many kudos to the chefs at Bavette.  Everything from the appetizers to dessert was perfectly cooked and flavored.  The service here was also phenomenal.  Our waiter was attentive without being too intrusive.  I can't wait until I have a chance to go back.

• 

  Bavette's Punch

  Bavette's Punch
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  Chocolate Pie

  Chocolate Pie
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  Filet Mignon - Petite Duchess Cut

  Filet Mignon - Petite Duchess Cut
• See all photos from Lisa H. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

7/30/2015

It was very good, but not the best steak or meal I ever had to be worthy of its 5 star reputation and #2 in Chicago Trip Advisor rating.  They had great oysters, some of the best I ever had. They had an awesome drink menu, certainly good place for drinks. Their service was great. The ambiance is dark and romantic, with good ol' boy decor and classic touches. Very Chi-town. Their sides are delicious, like the Elote corn. Very good. Their steak was great, but nothing that special. I was not blown away by the food. I liked it and was glad we came, but for the hefty price tag I wonder if there are actually better steaks in Chicago. The dessert wasn't amazing either. It was good, but I guess given the rating, the reviews and the price I expected a lot more.

Background Story: My husband and I were in Chicago for just three nights. One night we were meeting up with friends, who wanted to take us dinner and dancing at Untitled. The other we had long time made reservations (tickets purchased) at Alinea, Chicago's number one. So without too much planning we left the third night open, and while in town decided we still had to do two things: eat a deep dish pizza and go to a steak house. So the night before we stopped by the concierge desk (we were staying at the Langham) and the amazing concierge gave us several options. We looked them up on trip advisor and asked him to call. Bavette's was our number one choice. He said when he called Bavette's said they did not have any tables at all. So he made us reservations at Chicago Cut. BUT he mentioned that if we were able to get to Bavette's when they open, at 5:00PM, we would have a chance at walking in and getting a table because they save tables for walk ins in their main dining room. And voila, indeed they did. We walked in at 5:00PM on Sunday July 12th and got ourselves a nice table in the main dining room (it was not a booth but we weren't complaining). So if you call or go to opentable and don't see any reservations available simply go the night you want at 5:00PM and most likely you will be seated. I thought that was a nice thing they do.

8/3/2015

Just shut up and take my money.

All of it.

4/30/2015

I ordered the bone in dry aged ribeye, the steak and frites, and the thick cut bacon.
Was it the best steak I've ever had? Probably not, but it was certainly decent.

But their bacon!! So damn good. I think it's the best thick cut bacon I've ever had. I loved the maple and the black pepper together.

They are known for their bone in dry aged ribeye, so definitely get that when you go. Worth a try, definitely a satisfying meal.

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  The bomb ass bacon

  The bomb ass bacon
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  Bone in ribeye

  Bone in ribeye

6/5/2015 Updated review

Miserable. I left Bavette's miserable. I ate so much I felt like my stomach needed to explode for some chance of relief. I really are too much. I could not help myself. And in the end, I paid for it. But, it was a great feeling because the food was just that good. Mind blowing.

Shrimp de Jonghe (5 stars)
The shrimp were served with Flavored Texas Toast  and sitting in a difficult to explain sauce which was good enough to drink with a straw. I thought the toast was a star in its own but when dipped in the sauce, I genuinely wished there was more bread. After all, there is only so much sauce you can get on a slice of toast and I did not want this sauce to go to waste.

Buttery Mashed Potatoes with garlic and chicken au jus (4 stars)

Pepper Thick Cut Bacon (4 stars)  
Very different. Meaty and Flavorful. Best if shared with a group IMO. One bite was enough for me.

16oz Bone In Filet (5 stars)
Never as good as the first time but pretty darn close. It was remarkably tender and extremely flavorful. The bernaise sauce was the perfect compliment. Also, the waiter offered to have it sliced which we happily accepted. ...And it was cheaper this visit. $68.95; down from $76.

Elote Style Corn (5 stars)
Seriously mind blowing, I wish I could have eaten more good. A must get if dining here.

T bone of Lamb (3 stars)
Very good. But each side was different. I was less than pleased with the side with a game like flavored.

Service, Decor & Ambiance (4 stars)
Good but as it should be at this price point.

Cocktail (4 stars)
I really enjoyed my Lillet Rose cocktail. It was light, sweet and refreshing.

Still a winner!

8/1/2015

This is my favorite bar in Chicago, bar none. I am guiltily outing my Mecca, my church, my heaven.

As it goes for almost all my 5 star places, I will elaborate no further.

3/13/2015

Honestly, I could not find even a tiny flaw in anything here! Gorgeous speakeasy style space with perfect mood lighting & stellar service.

We started with old school prohibition style cocktails: Belle Mead Old Fashioneds for my dining companions and a Dark & Stormy for me. No complaints here! Appetizers of the sweetest oysters, crab cake loaded with lump crab and peppered duck pate enhanced with an apricot sauce that were all expertly presented and prepared.

My filet was like butter! So flavorful, tender and perfectly medium rare with sides of maple peppered bacon, wild mushrooms and corn unlike any corn I've ever tasted. It's called Elote Style Corn with chili, lime cilantro & Parmesan and it's killer!

Our family members have been here a few times and insisted that we should join them during our visit to Chicago. You know, they're seriously onto something really good here! Loved it!!!

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  Petite Filet with roasted tomatoes and sides of bacon and mushrooms

  Petite Filet with roasted tomatoes and sides of bacon and mushrooms

6/1/2015

Can I give it 10 stars?!  This is by far my favorite steakhouse of all time.  The dining experience is second to none.  From the dark, romantic corners to the amazingly friendly and knowledgeable servers, I cannot speak more highly of any restaurant in Chicago.

First thing's first, know that you are allowed to bring your own bottle of wine.  Their policy as far as the corkage fee is that you send a glass of your wine over to another table.  Small price to pay!  On our last visit (for our wedding anniversary) we sent a glass to an older couple.  They were kind enough to even send us a glass of their lovely cab!

Bavette's has such depth in character!  I love the dark, intimate corners.  They serve you on delicate floral plates that they buy from antique stores all over the country.

The bone marrow is a must!  So rich, creamy, and perfect with their flaky yet soft bread!  I've only ever ordered steak here as my entree and I've never been disappointed.  Cooked to perfection!

This is definitely my go-to restaurant for special occasions!

7/11/2015

Outstanding all around! Read positive reviews on Yelp and its on the Eater 38 list so I made reservation during a recent trip to Chicago. We went at 10pm on a Friday, the place was packed but we were seated right away. We had a big booth for the 2 of us across from the bar. The place was gorgeous, dimly lit, perfect for a date.

Food: I started with an apple an mixed greens salad which was very good. My boyfriend had the bone marrow which he loved - he said it was decadent and was pleasantly surprised at the large portion. For our meal we both had the 10 oz filet - they were perfectly cooked. The knife slid through the beef like butter! And we shared pomes frites which were very tasty.

Drinks: Great cocktail list! I enjoyed a French 75 and my boyfriend had a Manhattan. Only strange thing was I asked for a Pimm's Cup and I was told they didn't have Pimm's which I found surprising.

Service: Fantastic! Our waiter was attentive and down to earth making it an enjoyable night.

Can't wait to visit Chicago and Bavette's again!

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  Bone marrow

  Bone marrow
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  Apple and Mixed Greens

  Apple and Mixed Greens

8/10/2015

We really enjoyed our visit to Bavette's.  We ate in the basement and really loved the atmosphere down there.  The food was excellent.  I had the lamb chops which were perfectly prepared.  So moist and so flavorful.  My wife had the rib-eye which she also really enjoyed. She loved the marbling and the flavors that were created.  She had the Lillet Rose Martini and she absolutely loved it.  The seasoning they make for your meat is incredible.  We really enjoyed the mashed potatoes - loaded with flavor!  Great service, although a tad slow, our waiter was helpful and courteous.  Next time I will try the filet - was a tad bit disappointed I didn't get to try it, but the lamb just looked too good to pass us.  I don't think you can go wrong with anything here.

7/8/2015

Very similar to Gilt Bar.  Right next door and may even share the same kitchen cuz there seem to be a lot of similar items on the menu but made a little differently.  

Salmon tartare was good (same as Gilt)
Duck n goat cheese terrine was ok
Bone marrow good (same as Gilt)
Oysters were bomb!  Liked the west coast better.  
Lamb was good!  Beautifully cooked!
Fried chicken...I know, fried chicken, right?  But it was pretty darn delish!  

If I had to choose I would go back to Gilt before Bavettes.

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  Bone marrow!!!

  Bone marrow!!!
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  Peppered duck n goat cheese terrine with apricot mustard n toast

  Peppered duck n goat cheese terrine with apricot mustard n toast
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  My birthday chocolate pie!!! Just like Gilt's!! Soooo good!!

  My birthday chocolate pie!!! Just like Gilt's!! Soooo good!!

7/20/2015

I'll help you out. It's not hard to be right at this place, it's all very good.  

1. Wedge Salad - bacon and big enough for two.
2. Steak and Frites - a great option at a great price point. Enough fries for two.
3. Chicago Ribeye - the sauce is good, the spices on the side are fine BUT you won't need either - the steak is that good and seasoned perfectly.
4. Chocolate Pie - It's awesome.

Ask for Aime - she'll help you with a friendly smile.

Great special night out place.

5/29/2015

Game over. Bavette's served me one of the best meals I've had in the US, if not the best.  

Everything. Was. Perfect.

I had a malbec, the dry aged ribeye (medium rare of course), the elote corn, and a bit of the bread and butter.

Since I was dining solo I only nibbled on a corner of the bread but oh my god, that was perfect too. Cultured butter. Warm, crusty, chewy bread. I am not much of a wine drinker, but the malbec was such a good choice. It complimented the meat so well. The corn- wow. Creamy, a slight chew, with the perfect amount of acidity. I can't really compare it to anything else because I haven't had anything quite like it. I think it was supposed to mirror elote loco? (I haven't had it yet).

As for the ribeye- A slight funk in the background, the lightest tang, melt-in-your-mouth tender with the perfect amount of fat. The "grey" area was so minimal- just perfectly cooked meatiness waiting for your mouth. This cow did not die in vain. It didn't need béarnaise but the béarnaise itself was so marvelous that you can't help but to eat it too just because it's also so good and complimented the steak so well.

The service was quick, attentive, warm, friendly, and un-pretentious. Getting a "good steak" in DC means snotty servers that ignore younger guests for fussy older folks. Not here obviously. Just 100% pure, comforting, meat bliss. The place is so dark and comfortable I felt like I was in a meat opium den.

Makes me want to quit eating steak in DC because everything else will just disappoint me after having this meal. No detail was spared. I mean, seriously. Absolutely perfect. Most restaurants have "weak spots" where some part of the dining experience is an afterthought and they compensate with their "star" dish(es). It could be a sloppy, cold lump of butter with the bread. It could be mediocre, sloppily poured drinks. It could be generic sides. Average sauces. Everything I ate was just honestly perfect.

Next time I'm in town I will be sure to book Bavette's again.

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  My incredible meal with the dry aged ribeye, elote corn, Malbec, and the bread with cultured butter.

  My incredible meal with the dry aged ribeye, elote corn, Malbec, and the bread with cultured butter.
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  Dry aged prime rib at Bavette's

  Dry aged prime rib at Bavette's

1/27/2015

The food was quite good, but for $290 for dinner for two, you expect the service to be flawless. The service had flaws.

We arrived on-time (~1-2 minutes early for our reservation and checked in + checked our coats. We were directed to the waiting area where we sat for almost 10 minutes before a waiter came to offer us a drink menu. We then selected drinks, but it took nearly another 10 minutes to get him back to take our drink order. Mind you, this whole time we were watching our table... Clean and waiting for us... Not 2 minutes after placing our drink order, The hostess then decided to seat us but before she did abruptly stopped and walked off to see if it would "even be possible" to transfer our drink order.

Once we were seated our waiter attempted to take our drink order again but finally we communicated that we already had an order and eventually got the drinks. We had to ask him about recommendations though... He didn't offer them up until we asked.  We started ordering a starter (duck terrine) and the waiter tool my husbands menu away!  So we then had to share a menu to decide what to order.

Turns out I didn't like the duck terrine, but my husband did. We both liked the salad and fresh bread -- the bread was amazing. We liked our steaks as well.

My other service issues -- they took away my husband's drink when he was still drinking it (and they aren't cheap cocktails!). Another is that they didn't even ask about coats so we had to go to the front and wait for them while the staff was huffy with us. My final qualm is that I had bites of steak cut and specifically said I wanted everything on my plate boxed. I opened it to eat it today and found none of my bites -- with the price of the steaks, those were like $5 bites each!!!

Anyway, the service doesn't match the price. 3 stars, yep just 3 stars.

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  Peppered duck and goat cheese terrine

  Peppered duck and goat cheese terrine

3/12/2015

May be one of my favorite restaurants ever. Incredible service, food, drinks and atmosphere! Perfect!
Those lamb chops were, hands down, the best I've ever eaten. And I've eaten many a lamb chop. Not crazy about the corn, the waiter comped it, and promptly brought out some mashed potatoes that were the height of garlicky, creamy perfection. Incredible meal, be sure to make a reservation far in advance.

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  Animals on the wall made out of road maps. Cute!

  Animals on the wall made out of road maps. Cute!

1/30/2015

Top steakhouse in Chicago, arguably the best in a city that is well known for steaks!

Bavette, owned by the Au Cheval Group, breaks the traditional elegant steakhouse concept. Bavette offers a slightly more casual (yet modern) style with no white tablecloths and no tuxedo waiters.

The food is DELICIOUS! A creative menu that offers both great starters, salads, seafood, fish, and (of course) wonderful steaks!

To start we ordered a shrimp and an oyster platter: fresh, very decently sized and great taste! We followed with a salad and bone marrow: unbelievable, awesome taste. And our steaks (I ordered a ribeye) were just cooker perfectly medium rare! For sides we had the "Elote"... wow, I can't believe how incredibly delicious this was, we even ordered a second round of it!

Unbelievable meal, definitely not a cheap place, but the quality of the food and great service made the best out of our evening. No wonder Bavette is currently rated on TripAdvisor as Best Restaurant (of any kind) in all of Chicago! - As of Jan. 2015

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  Key lime Pie

  Key lime Pie
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  Bacon!!

  Bacon!!
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  Elote

  Elote
• See all photos from Diego C. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

5/15/2015

Drinks
Bacon
Alaskan crab legs
Crab cake
Bone in filet

This place really impressed me and that's something really hard to do
I'm a big rib eye fan and the filet was just amazing best stake I have ever had

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  Bone in filet

  Bone in filet

5/5/2015

I made dinner reservations on a Tuesday evening for my bf's belated birthday celebration. The only open reservation (on Open Table) was at 8:45pm, but when we arrived, I saw many open tables. We were seated not too long after our arrival, but it wasn't until we were already seated at our table did the hostess ask if we wanted to check in our coats.

It was hard deciding which appetizer to start off with. So upon recommendation from our waitress, we decided on the peppered duck & goat cheese terrine, which she mentioned was a staff favorite that was often overlooked by guests. This appetizer was presented in more of a pâté fashion, with a side of apricot mustard and toast. The combination, especially with the apricot spread, was absolute delectable & a must try!

For our entree, we shared the 22oz. bone in dry aged ribeye & added the roasted bone marrow, along with a side of elote style corn. The ribeye was mouthwatering and cooked medium rare to perfection. Every bite was tender, and only close to the bone was the meat too raw (for me). The elote style corn was good, as all corn is usually, but the dish was WAY too salty. We each had a few tiny spoonfuls and that was all we could withstand.

For such a fine establishment, I am appalled by the less than excellent service. For starters, as stated previously, there were many open tables around in the restaurant but they sat us less than 2 feet from a table of 4 gentlemen who were talking very..VERY loudly. We had a late reservation with not many guests coming in after us. On top of that, bread was not brought to our table until asked and when our bottle of water was empty, they would remove it but forgot to bring another one back. I wanted to give our waitress the benefit of the doubt -- perhaps they were understaffed -- but I would frequently see her just hanging out by the bar area.

I started off wanting to give them 4 stars, but the more that I am reminded of the awful service, the more I am able to justify my 3 star rating. Not sure how likely we are to return, as there are so many other great restaurants in the city that offers good food AND good service.

7/19/2015

Best steak in Chicago. Absolutely love this place. Everything about it is fantastic. The location, the decor, the drinks, the food and the staff are all awesome. The elote was just wow. Yeah, "wow." Only downside is you'll be hard pressed to get a reservation at a normal time (anything earlier than 9 PM). But, pro tip, the bar does serve the full menu and is usually empty enough to find a spot for 2 people.

6/6/2015

I've had this place bookmarked on Yelp since last November, so you can imagine how excited I was to eat!

From the moment you walk past the hostess desk, it's like you stepped into the past. Gold lightening, chandeliers, jazz music and vintage seating. I was so impressed and I hadn't even sat down yet!

My waiter, Joel was really attentive and had great recommendations. Awesome wine and cognac list.

The oysters were huge and delicious (I always go west coast because they're not as fishy) ((ask for Hama Hama))
We ordered the chicago cut steak and their signature rib eye. MUST try the rib eye.
The creamed spinach was better than the elotes in my opinion. The elotes didn't live up to their hype on yelp  

But honestly this place is my absolute favorite I would have to bring everyone I know here for the food and experience.

Thank you Bavettes for a great birthday!

12/9/2014

Bavette's has been on my list of places to try for the longest time and I finally got the chance to go on a random Monday night. We had a later reservation, but they were able to seat us a little earlier once everyone in the party arrived.

Ambiance: Usually I'm all about the food and don't really focus too much on the ambiance, but I gotta admit that Bavette's is a pretty cool spot. It has that whole speakeasy vibe with dim lighting and old-school furniture everywhere.

Drinks: They had 3 types of old fashioneds. I tried the Old Overholt and the Belle Meade. Both were real good. The Belle Meade was probably my favorite of the two since it was bourbon based.

Food: The food is pretty much the only reason I wanted to come to this place. I've been to some of Sodikoff's other restaurants and I haven't been disappointed yet. We couldn't really decide what to get so we ended up ordering a ton of stuff.

Bread - The free bread was actually really good. It was warm and pillowy sourdough bread that came with some house-made butter

Shortrib Stroganoff - Since we were all getting steaks as our entree, we just ended up getting this as our appetizer since its a popular dish that we all wanted to try. The shortribs had a good bold flavor and were fall apart tender. The stroganoff had a real rich, creamy sauce that we ended up sopping up with the leftover bread. Goddamn my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Definitely recommend trying this entree.

Roasted bone marrow - Typical fatty goodness. A few of the bones were really shallow and didn't have as much filling. I need my marrow fix! haha.
Note: If at least two people planned on adding a bone marrow to their steak, might as well get the bone marrow entree since it comes with 3 bones, toast, and jam and its the same price as two add-ons.

Classic Chicago cut Ribeye - Wow, the steak was just so tender and fatty...my knife cut right through it. Just a solid steak made with good quality meat, prepared the simple way. It came with a thick bearnaise sauce too but I didn't think the steak needed it.

Mashed potatoes - Sounds boring but it was actually really good. Came with some sort of chicken gravy and had full cloves of garlic hidden throughout.

Elote style corn - It seemed a little out of place among the other traditional steakhouse sides but it was probably my favorite of all the side dishes. It was very creamy and tangy and had a nice little kick of spice to it.

Thick cut bacon - What's not to love about really thick peppered bacon. Pretty much the same dish that you can order at Au Cheval.

Chocolate cream pie / whiskey ice cream - The pie was surprisingly light and the chocolate crust on it was money. Maybe it's because we ate and drink so much, but I think a scoop of plain vanilla ice cream would've been more refreshing after we went beast mode on all that food. Can't really pass up even more whiskey for dessert though.

Service: Our waitress checked up on us pretty frequently and answered all our questions about the food and drinks. Waters were never empty. No complaints here.

Overall: It was pretty much a solid dinner. It was on the pricier side, but you sort of expect that from a steakhouse. Being a fan of both Au Cheval and Sodikoff's other places, I knew I'd love the food. Just some real flavorful, rich, meat and potatoes style cuisine. None of the dishes were super unique or something I haven't tried before, but I can't deny that everything was damn tasty.

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  whiskey ice cream and chocolate cream pie

  whiskey ice cream and chocolate cream pie
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  classic ribeye

  classic ribeye
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  thick cut bacon and bone marrow

  thick cut bacon and bone marrow
• See all photos from Mike M. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

8/7/2015

AWESOME food and service!!! A great experience that's a must when in Chicago!! You won't be disappointed!!

5/14/2015 Updated review

I love this restaurant. There are few restaurants that really impress me with the ambiance as well as the food. After coming here a second time, I had to up my review to 5 stars.

This time around we relished on the oyster tray (4 types of oysters, 2 east coast and 2 west coast - and you get 3 oysters of each type so 12 oysters total). All were delicious. Would recommend the champagne sauce on the east coast oysters as those are saltier than the west coast oysters.

We also enjoyed their chocolate cream dessert with a french press cup of coffee featuring Bowtruss beans. That combination is absolutely perfect. A bite of that chocolate mousse cake (I forgot the name but it's a signature chocolate dessert on their menu) and then a sip of the warm french press mingled together in the mouth equals an absolutely beautiful mixture of light yet rich sweetness plus a roasty coffee finish. I still think about that combination - even days later.

Also - if you're a big bread person, they have amazing bread. Dense, soft, with crispy crust that come in huge slices... oh my.... that is all I will say about the bread...

Whoever did the interior decorating to this place did an impressive job. It's warm and inviting, yet intimate and romantic. You feel like you walked into another era, I don't know if it's the 1920's or the 1960's... I'm no historian so forgive me... Looking around makes me feel like I'm watching scenes from a movie, only with modern dressed and trendy looking diners throughout the restaurant. Even the bartenders' outfits add to the atmosphere.

All in all, in my personal opinion, this place is pretty memorable for me. I've been lucky to try some really great restaurants around Chicago over the past year or so, and this is one of the few that stand out to me. I highly recommend trying, and I mean trying, to get a reservation here. It'll be worth it.

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  A chocolatey dessert. Goes perfectly with a cup of French pressed coffee w their Bowtruss beans!

  A chocolatey dessert. Goes perfectly with a cup of French pressed coffee w their Bowtruss beans!

7/11/2015

Very nice prohibition-themed spot. Gorgeous fun interesting room. Food was excellent without being life changing. Ribeye was the highlight - oh and the sauce on the garlic shrimp. Nice service too! Totally great, but a tad overhyped.

8/8/2015

Dined here for my 10 year anniversary with my boyfriend.  Crazy good drinks.  I give it a 10 for the atmosphere.  It was worth it for the oysters alone.  It was expensive.. but we knew what we were getting ourselves into.  5 stars!

6/12/2015

I can't believe it took me so long to get to Bavette's.  I've been wanting to check it out since they opened and now that it's not too far from my place I finally made it.  

I think the highlight of the night for me was my cocktail (shocker, right?).  I had the lillet rosé martini and it was really good.  Second on the list was the décor.  The cozy vintage hideaway feeling makes me want to relax, order another drink, and enjoy the company (not necessarily in that order).  

Now, in the event you care about the steak at a steak place and not just the drinks and comfort like I do.....the food was almost all very good.  I tried some of the smoked trout caesar salad and it was very good.  I love caesar salads and this one might be at the top of my list now.  The salmon was also very good, cooked perfectly and seasoned just right.  We had some oysters that were also yummy.  The steak however was not cooked as ordered, which is a problem if you wanna call yourself a steak place.  This should be the thing you definitely get right.  I had some of the elotes too and while they were good, they didn't remind me of elotes much.  

So, I loved the drink, I was comfy and smiley, the food was very good, so why only 3 stars you ask?  (If you didn't ask you should still keep reading)  The service was not great.  It was not overtly bad, but we left fairly cranky about a few things considering the amount of the bill.  First, one of the martini glasses was chipped, normally not a big deal but this was "I'll cut you!" chipped.  The server apologized and got a new glass.  Not a huge deal.  Then there was the severely undercooked steak.  The server did notice it was not cooked as ordered and apologized but at least half of it couldn't be eaten as it was.  Again, on it's own not a *huge* deal, but a restaurant on this level should get this right, that's why we're here.  We asked for a dessert menu and would've ordered something but it took the server about 15 minutes to come back and ask if we wanted anything.  At that point we just wanted to leave.  

Now we have a chipped glass, an almost raw piece of meat, and not so attentive service.  Wouldn't be all that annoying except the $$$ on the bill.  Not even a comp'd drink for the hiccups?  Maybe the offer of a complimentary dessert to apologize for the little snafus?  Nope.  

So those top two stars went home in a doggy bag with the steak (I believe some steak and eggs were made, probably at least worth 2 stars).  I'll try Bavette's again, but my expectations have shifted.

6/26/2015

WOW! Insert emoji with big heart eyes here.

Great Atmosphere! The best cocktails in Chicago! Yes I said it. The steak is really good too.

The decor is super fancy with a hint of old style Chicago style. In the basement area is a bit more modern.

I think if I lived in downtown Chicago I would definitely frequent here for the cocktails.

Would recommend the elote style corn and the beef tongue.

Bavette's is a good place for love birds and/or business dinner.

8/7/2015

Beautiful speakeasy meets gatsby ambiance. The underground parlor room is perfect for a romantic dinner and a tad quieter than the upstairs. Service was fabulous, good wine list, and for a steak and potatoes Midwest girl their filet, broccoli, and mashed potatoes were to die. The only regret I have is not having any room left to try all the other things that looked so good on the menu. Perfect date night or anniversary dinner spot. Steakhouse meets romantic hideaway. Amazing selection of old fashioneds that cater to any flavor profile preference.

6/10/2015

My boyfriend and I have been trying to come here for months now and finally came out on a Tuesday. Although we had reservations, the place did not seem too packed. Immediately upon arrival, we entered a dim room that seemed to be only lit by candles...talk about romantic! The hostess was very welcoming and all the workers were super friendly and on top of their job. Our waitress was very knowledgable on the menu and very attentive. We started off with the foie gras and both agreed it was pretty good, but the highlight of it was the blackberry jam. For our entrees, I ordered the duchess cut filet with a side of fries and my boyfriend ordered the chicago cut. I absolutely LOVED my steak. Hands down, the best steak I ever had. I made quite the perfect choice ordering a blue cheese topping. My boyfriend loved his ribeye and said the best part of it, despite the phenomenal steak, was the bearnaise sauce. Another highlight was the fries! Hot and crispy to perfection. The side of sauce was delicious although I do not know what it was exactly. Overall the portions left us way to stuffed to even consider dessert! Although arguably the best steak house downtown, you definitely don't get the pretentious feel that many of the other steak greats strive for! Fantastic meal, fantastic ambience, and fantastic staff! If you get the chance to try Bavettes it's a must!

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• 
• 
• See all photos from Christina L. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

7/9/2015

Best Ribeye I have EVER had.  22oz dry aged. 5 STARS!  Tender, very bold beef flavor, just as you would expect from aged beef.

Shrimp was Ahhh, probably just a bad catch.  bread was chewy with a good crisp crust. Asparagus was grilled and very good.

The lighting is very Dark.  My only real complaint... The wood chairs which are tough on my back.  Not too loud, and not awkwardly quiet either.

Staff was attentive right down to the bus boy who folded my napkin when I left the table, to the GM who boxed my leftovers.

11/15/2014

I've been having some fantastic experiences recently and as a result, I've become a bit of a 5 star whore as a result.

One of them was at Bavette Bar & Beouf in Chicago. I've had the opportunity to spend 4 days a week for 1.5 years in Chicago commuting there weekly from NY; I've gotten to know and love the city from many angles. Except for those blustery cold snowy days in February....ugh.

Anyway, I had met up with some friends locally and this was the spot they chose. These guys are fabulous - I can't tell you how fantastic everything was, from the gimlet at the bar, to the appetizers, efficient and accommodating service, flexibility of my ordering and dining style, nailing my black-n-blue (very rare cold center with crust) steak, along with the ambience and decor. The vibe here is speakeasy combined with male oriented steakhouse elegance, with a touch of everyday casual dining attached with servers who rock.

I will definitely be returning upon my next visit to Chi-town....I wasn't able to get some deep dish pizza because of this scheduled dinner and I wasn't missing it at all after the experience I had.

PS - they're oyster tastings were stellar, so much so, we had done a few rounds of them.

Keep up the stellar work guys...

THIS has been a review by Gaurav

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  Terrible lighting - it's so beautiful inside. An extremely well made gimlet requested with oxley gin

  Terrible lighting - it's so beautiful inside. An extremely well made gimlet requested with oxley gin

7/27/2015 Updated review

Came here with my fiancé and my parents. Overall we had a completely wonderful experience and meal. This place is a total gem. Some highlights: The roasted chicken might sound slightly boring, but it is NOT. It is amazing! It's half a chicken, the skin is crispy yet the meat is super tender, and it comes with this delectable pan jus with roasted garlic cloves that melt in your mouth. Get this! For a "side" I ordered the wedge salad. Well! It can very easily feed 3 people, and was a huge hit. Everything else we got was superb. Only gripe? Well, $16 for a martini kinda rubs me the wrong way, and it was smaller than last time I was here. I mean, come on. I know this place is fancy and pricey but $16 is plain ridiculous (martinis are my favorite drink but I just can't recommend spending that much on one). Other than that blip, I highly, highly recommend this place. It's not somewhere we'd go often because of how expensive it is, but for a once-in-a-while treat or special occasion, it's my go-to choice in the city.

6/27/2015

Awesome decor, and design. They have a good wine selection. The food itself was very good as well. The kitchen had some issues so they gave us a bunch of free food to tie us over. They ended up taking off the wine and some of the food (which was impressive since I got a $120 bottle). I would come back for sure, this place is a gem. I would give 5 stars if we didn't wait over an hour for our food.

4/7/2015

6 stars. The peppered duck and goat cheese terrine was probably one of the best items I've eaten in a very long time. The lamb t-bone was perfectly cooked.
This place has so many nice touches that I really don't know where to start.
One of my favorites was the 2" square ice cube they put in your drink. I usually get a glass of whiskey before a steak dinner and it was nice having this little glacier in my glass to add a chill but not water.
The downstairs bar is a place that I could loose an afternoon in. Dark, no windows big leather sofa in the middle of the floor...I'm pretty sure I could spend a day here.

3/20/2015

Wow. I think this place is one of the best places to go for nice and satisfying meal. The ribeye was just so tender and tasty. I am all about putting extra condiments, but I refused to put any because I wanted to taste the original flavor and texture of the meat. We ordered dozen oysters. Half from east coast other half from west coast. Both versions were fantastic! The fritz aka fries. Can I just say Bravo? I asked for ketchup as soon as the waiter brought the fries out, but didn't even touch that and used the house sauce. Even the bread that came with was satisfying. Loved the butter.
We had champaign crush, original champaign cocktail and dirty martini with olives and cheese. The drinks weren't exceptional but good enough. Heard the dirty martini was great though.

Lastly, we had chocolate creme pie and whiskey icecream. Totally worth trying and stretching your stomach. It was just perfect. Our server Brandon made our night even better. He is humorous, polite and fast!  My flight got delayed by a lot, so we got there at 10:50pm for late dinner, but the service was flawless. Thanks for the great food and fabulous service! Strongly recommend trying this place.

Oh the price overall was $192 (except for desserts)

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  Champaign crush.

  Champaign crush.
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  complimentary bread :))

  complimentary bread :))
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  Oysters from the west and east coast!! So good

  Oysters from the west and east coast!! So good
• See all photos from Christina L. for Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

10/12/2014

I absolutely hate not being able to give this restaurant 5 stars. The ambiance alone deserves 10 stars. It's romantic, dimly lit, classic and beautiful, it looks like something out of Boardwalk Empire. It is screaming Chicago. It is far away from the tourist zones. At the same time, the noise level is great and I could see this being an amazing date night spot. Service was spectacular and attentive. The homemade bread was delicious. And they even have a coat check. So WHY in the world can I not give it 5 stars?

The steak I got (Ribeye Chicago Cut) was prepared very very rare, despite me asking for a medium rare. To top it off, the steak was full of muscle and was nearly impossible to chew. It was just such a disappointment and with a steak like that, I would have normally given a restaurant 2 stars. These guys just managed to compensate for it in every other department. The side of corn was spectacular also.

To make it over here, you will have to verge a little from the tourist central areas and the treck is well worth it. Lots of locals here enjoying their Sunday night!

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  Bread

  Bread
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  Chicago cut ribeye

  Chicago cut ribeye

7/26/2015

This is a great restaurant. I've been here twice and both times were home runs. Vincent J says it best that everything is great. Do yourself a favor though and get a side of corn. Uhhhhmazing. I'll be back every time I am in Chicago.

4/3/2015

My husband and I ate here on our last night in Chicago.  What a perfect way to put the finishing touches on a great weekend!  We had 10:15 pm reservations (prime time reservations are tough to get, so plan early in advance.). Our table was not quite ready so we had a cocktail at the bar while we were waiting.  The bartenders are skilled and modern without trying to be one of those trendy mixologists.

We were seated at a great booth in the center of the main dining room. Our server was attentive without being intrusive.  The manager was friendly when he came to uncork and decant our wine.

We began with the peppered duck and goat cheese terrine.  I'm not typically a fan of pate' or terrines (the texture is just off putting to me), but I found myself continuing to grab bite after bite.  

We shared the wedge salad (the thick cut bacon is phenomenal). For our entrees I had the shortrib stroganoff (superb) and my husband chose the Classic Ribeye.  I've had dozens of ribeyes in my life, and I can honestly say this was the most tender and flavorful that I've ever experienced.  My husband felt the same.  We shared the corn elote as a side because they don't have such things in our hometown.  I really liked the flavor but my husband was not as impressed.  

We passed on dessert because we were both so full but the desserts passing our table looked beautiful and tasty.

Like many others have said, the atmosphere is almost as good as the food.  We will definitely be recommending Bavette's to others.

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  Peppered duck and goat cheese terrine

  Peppered duck and goat cheese terrine

4/4/2015

Fantastic ambience and music.

Invokes more of a speakeasy atmosphere paired with the leather couches of a traditional steakhouse.  

The bone-in dry aged rib eye and the flat iron steak are must-haves! Gayot weren't kidding when they named it one of their top 10 steakhouses in the country for 2014!

More about the speakeasy part - the cocktails are phenomenal especially the dark and stormy and the lily rosé.

Another must-have is the elote corn side dish. Don't think twice. Just get it. You won't regret it.

Cheers and bon appétit!

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  Dry aged bone-in rib eye aka mouth watering mind blowing awesomeness!

  Dry aged bone-in rib eye aka mouth watering mind blowing awesomeness!

4/1/2015

Found this place last minute.  We could only get reservations before 6:30pm or after 9:30pm in the parlor (basement bar seating).

The upstairs had a quiet decent atmosphere and seating was spread out.  It feels like the upstairs is more romantic than the downstairs.  The downstairs was more informal it had house with a mix of hip hop playing.  It wasn't load, you can still have a conversation and I enjoyed it.

The service was spot on and our server made good recommendations.  I had the steak and it was cooked perfectly.  Medium rare is the way to go.  They had a good drink menu, and they had a good selection of Three Floyds  Craft Beer.

I would definitely eat here again.  It's now one of my favorites.

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  Medium rare steak

  Medium rare steak
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  Three Floyds Gum Ball

  Three Floyds Gum Ball

8/6/2015

Oh... My... God!!! Seriously one of the top five, (if not top one or two), best steaks I've ever had in my life, and I'm from Kansas City!

Service was impeccable, atmosphere was upscale but casual and the food flat out rocked! The pomme frites redefined potatoes for me and set a new high benchmark for the rest of my life. Even the salad was great and holy crap, wait until you try their home made ice creams!

It may be a bit pricey, had a second of sticker shock when I read their menu, but after the event it was worth every penny.

12/2/2014

Bavette's was a stop on Day 2 of our long Chicago weekend.  BF and I had been looking forward to eating there based on all the great reviews and we were not disappointed.

The atmosphere is classy and cozy, but we were seated along the wall in what felt like cafeteria-style seating.  Not the place to sit if you want a romantic dining experience.  If that's your goal, try to get a booth.

We both ordered the stuffed crab avocado salad.  Oh.  My.  God.  So good!  That was a meal in itself.  Beautifully seasoned crab meat in a half avocado, accompanied by Bibb lettuce (I think) and a tasty citrus vinaigrette.

For the entree, we both ordered the steak frites.  Again, absolutely delicious, especially with the Bearnaise sauce.  My mistake was ordering it medium well because the edges were drier than I liked, but that was my fault.  BF order his medium rare and couldn't stop raving about it.  I was too stuffed to make a dent in the fries, which were nicely seasoned, but BF ate all of his and some of mine.  

The service was great until our waitress forgot about us.  We asked her twice for refills on our drinks, which never came.  BF went up to the bar to ask for refills and they were brought by someone else.  Otherwise, we had no complaints about the service.  Our water glasses were never empty and our food was served pretty quickly.

My biggest complaint is the restroom situation.  There is one single-person restroom for each gender, so ladies, be prepared to wait in line.  There were five women waiting when I was there.  It seems like they'd be required to have more than one toilet per gender based on the number of people who actually fit in that restaurant.

Overall, it was a very nice experience.  The food was awesome, so I can overlook some of the little annoyances.

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  Steak frites

  Steak frites
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  Crab avocado salad

  Crab avocado salad

8/4/2015

Amazing decor. Amazing Food. Amazing Service. Amazing Cocktails. A must visit restaurant.

6/12/2015

A friend, my husband and I went to Bavette's for my husband's birthday dinner. It was THE BEST.

The atmosphere and decor reminded me of an old Chicago style. It was cozy and inviting but be warned that if you eat downstairs it is very dimly lit.

The food was outstanding and cooked perfectly. Here is what we had:
Cocktail - Mint Julep was so awesome we had several rounds.
Appetizer - Beef Tongue had fantastic flavors and was very tender.
Entrees - Ribeye (16oz) was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth; Pork chop was very juicy and flavorful; Beef Stroganoff was superb. The short ribs were tender, a little sticky and sweet. They were a great compliment to the dish.
Side - Creamed Spinach was very creamy and rich.
Dessert - Peppermint Ice Cream packed a punch of peppermint with a very creamy ice cream. I'm not one for minty desserts and I was super full but I definitely had several bites of this.

It was a wonderful experience and the staff was helpful, knowledgable and great! We would go back for sure.

7/29/2015

Great food, great service, and the hot towel at the end of the evening was a very nice touch.

7/6/2015

This is by far the best place I have been the past 5 years. It may be difficult to reserve a table which is why we went in and sat at the bar - but let me tell you THIS......

The bar is where you get the best service. If Allen is working then prepare to get your mind blown because this guy is phenomenal.

Every time I am in Chicago, you will find me here - and for good reason, too.

8/12/2015 Updated review

This is the best steakhouse in Chicago right now.  Their prime steaks are excellent and their shellfish is incredible.  I suggest getting your steak Diane style.

3/3/2015

this place is so good. SO GOOD.

reservations are a bit hard to come by for this swanky smooth sexy spot in river north, so most of the time i have just waited for seats at the bar, which offers the full menu, and you're closer to the cocktails. totally the right move. there is a large selection of house cocktails but i usually get the negroni, and they do an amazing job here.

i always get the foie gras terrine with cognac and blackberries. its so delicious. the bread they serve it with is perfect. just so rich and noms.  salads are great and big enough to share. wedge salad is amazing. but the steaks. the steaks are so good. they're not the same as mastro's, which i also love love loveeeee, since they serve their steaks with sauce, but omg, cooked perfectly every time.  i usually share the bone in dry aged ribeye, medium rare, and it comes perfect to you on a hot plate.

im a creature of habit, so i havent tried many other things on the menu other than the above and some sides, but honestly, everytthingggg looks delicious and immediately makes you want to order when it walks  by you...

8/4/2015

I've had steaks in many Chicago steakhouses (e.g. David Burke's, Tango Sur, Cut) and the filet at Bavette's was by far the best I've had.  Complement the dish with a side of their elote corn (a bit spicy if you can't handle the heat) and an Old Fashioned, and you'll be in heaven.  Conclude the feast with the golden brick dessert and you won't be disappointed.

7/12/2015

Tried this place with the hubs on a recent trip to Chicago. It was excellent from start to finish!! We shared:  peppered duck & goat cheese terrine (so good - that mustard goes well with it), wedge salad (with seriously the best thick-cut bacon I've ever had), side of wild mushrooms (very flavorful), and bone-in filet (cooked perfectly medium rare) with addition of a couple roasted bone marrow (rich and umami). Drinks were very good and service was impeccable! Small place and very dimly lit, which I didn't mind. I loved the ambiance, especially being with my husband. It's what I imagine old Chicago to be like. Would definitely come here again next time in Chi-town.

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  Bone-in filet, roasted bone marrow, side of wild mushrooms - all delicious!

  Bone-in filet, roasted bone marrow, side of wild mushrooms - all delicious!
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  Wedge salad - that thick-cut bacon was incredible

  Wedge salad - that thick-cut bacon was incredible
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  Peppered duck & goat cheese terrine - very tasty

  Peppered duck & goat cheese terrine - very tasty